Snap-on Bed Skirt

ABSTRACT

A snap-on bed skirt provides an easily installed and removed rigid vertical decorative covering for the sides of a box spring which extends to the floor. The skirt can be provided in a variety of rigid materials and can be decorated with a variety of colors, styles, and materials. The rigid vertical skirts can be quickly installed or removed. Depending upon the design and placement of the bed, two to four panels can be installed. These panels are carefully crafted for a snug and rigid fit on the box spring, either supported by friction or horizontal supports placed between the box spring and mattress, under the box spring, or attached to the bed frame. The corners of the panels would be fastened to each other with corner fasteners.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/316,455, filed on Jun. 26, 2014, which claimed benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/839,548, filed on Jun. 26, 2013, now abandoned.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to bed furnishings and in particular to a snapon bed skirt. With the limited storage space available in apartments, condominiums, and smaller homes, many people are using the space beneath their beds for storage, but it can be unsightly. Items stored beneath the beds can be concealed with bed skirts, but an updated version of the bed skirt is not available to consumers. A snap-on bed skirt, that provides an easily installed and removed vertical rigid decorative covering for the sides of a box spring that extends to the floor, would resolve this problem inexpensively. The snap-on bed skirt provides a convenient, affordable, and elegant alternative to the dusty old bed skirts of yesteryear, and could evolve with a child from the toddler years to college. Two, three, or four easy-to-attach panels would be affixed to the frame or box spring, and would be connected to each other at the corners of the bed. Now the user can update the look of any traditional bed while ensuring that “under the bed storage” is concealed. Snap-on bed skirts can be provided in a variety of finishes, hand-painted designs, or covered with fabrics in various colors and styles, and can be quickly installed or removed to update the look of the user's bedroom. Newlyweds and recent graduates may not be able to afford an expensive sleigh bed, but they can afford snap-on bed skirts. Users can update their beds as often as they'd like—there is no limit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a snap-on bed skirt. The snap-on bed skirt provides an easily installed and removed vertical rigid decorative covering for the sides of a box spring and extends to the floor. The skirts can be provided in a variety of fabrics, colors and styles, and can be quickly installed or removed. Depending upon the design and placement of the bed, two, three or four panels can be installed. These panels are carefully crafted for a snug and rigid fit on the box spring. The corners of the panels would be fastened to each other with corner fasteners utilizing removable snaps, clips or other fasteners. The device would be supported vertically by tension. When the panels are attached to each other, the friction between the panels and the box spring would hold the panels in place. In an alternate embodiment, the panels may be supported by horizontal supports located between the mattress and box springs, under the box springs, or on the bed frame.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bed with the first exemplary embodiment installed on the sides, displaying the rigid vertical side skirt panel 10, the box spring 12, the headboard 13, and the footboard 14.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a bed with the second exemplary embodiment installed on the sides and bottom of the bed, displaying the rigid vertical side skirt panels 10, the rigid vertical base skirt panel 11, the box spring 12, the headboard 13, and a fabric cover 15.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the rigid vertical side skirt panel 10, the rigid vertical base skirt panel 11, the horizontal supports 16, and the corner fasteners 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a snap-on bed skirt. The snap-on bed skirt provides an easily installed and removed vertical rigid decorative covering for the sides of a box spring and extends to the floor. The vertical skirt panels 10 and 11 can be provided in a variety of designs, including different color paints, material patterns (such as wood, metal, stone, etc. . . . ), fabric coverings 15, colors, and styles, and can be quickly installed or removed. Depending upon the design and placement of the bed, two, three or four vertical skirt panels 10 and 11 can be installed. These vertical skirt panels 10 and 11 are carefully crafted for a snug and rigid fit on the box spring and may include flexible fabric 15 from the edge of the box spring to the floor, so as to accommodate taller bed frames.

The device consists of multiple rigid panels 10 and 11 designed to closely fit around a box spring. The first exemplary embodiment consists of two rigid vertical side skirt panels 10 and one rigid vertical base skirt panel 11. The second exemplary embodiment consists of two rigid vertical side skirt panels 10, and two rigid vertical base skirt panels 11. The rigid vertical side skirt panels 10 are the length of the long side of a standard box spring mattress 12. The rigid vertical base skirt panels 11 are the length of the short side of a standard box spring mattress 12. Depending on the design of the bed frame, installation of the rigid vertical base skirt panels 11 is optional, and may be facilitated with the same type of snap, clips, nuts and bolts, hook and loop fasteners, or any other fastener known in the art or other closures used to secure the other corners of the rigid vertical skirt panels 10 and 11. The panels are preferably twelve inches tall and run the full length of the bed. The device is provided in six sizes for the six standard bed sizes: twin, twin xl, full, queen, king, and California king size.

The device would preferably be supported vertically by tension. When the vertical side skirt panels 10 and vertical base skirt panel 11 are connected via the corner fasteners 17 they form a structure which tightly presses against the box spring 12. Due to friction, the vertical skirt panels 10 and 11 are held in place. Alternatively, the device may be supported vertically by horizontal supports 16 which either rest between the mattress and box spring 12, are supported under the box spring 12, or supports located in the bed frame.

In alternate embodiments, the vertical skirt panels 10 and 11 may include different designs. They may be painted in color, patterns, or be made to match the material of different furnature in the room or the bed frame. The rigid vertical skirt panels 10 and 11 may also include a fabric cover 15 which hangs over the rigid vertical skirt panels 10 and 11.

The rigid vertical side skirt panels 10 and rigid vertical base skirt panel 11 would preferably be manufactured from rigid, durable materials such as high impact plastic, wood, steel, and aluminum. The panels may be painted, decorated with hand-painted designs, or otherwise finished without covering, or they may be covered with flexible, durable fabrics such as cotton, wool, cotton-rayon blend, cotton-polyester blend, or nylon.

Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A snap-on bed skirt, comprising: (a) a plurality of rigid vertical panels; (b) said plurality of rigid vertical panels including rigid vertical side skirt panels and rigid vertical base skirt panels; (c) said plurality of rigid vertical side skirt panels being of the same length as the long side of a box spring mattress; (d) said plurality of rigid vertical base skirt panels being of the same length as the short side of a box spring mattress; (e) said plurality of rigid vertical panels having corner fasteners at both horizontal ends; (f) said corner fasteners being configured to connect said rigid vertical side skirt panels to said rigid vertical base skirt panels; and (g) said snap-on bed skirt being configured to fit tightly around said box-spring mattress when said rigid vertical side skirt panels are attached to said rigid vertical base skirt panels such that said snap-on bed skirt is vertically secured by friction;
 2. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 1, wherein said corner fasteners are either snaps, clips, nuts and bolts, or hook and loop fasteners.
 3. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 1, wherein said plurality of rigid vertical panels includes two rigid vertical side skirt panels and one rigid vertical base skirt panel.
 4. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 3, wherein said plurality of rigid vertical panels are decorated with paint, material patterns, or fabric coverings.
 5. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 3, wherein said corner fasteners are either snaps, clips, nuts and bolts, or hook and loop fasteners.
 6. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 1, wherein said plurality of rigid vertical panels includes two rigid vertical side skirt panels and two rigid vertical base skirt panels.
 7. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 6, wherein said plurality of rigid vertical panels are decorated with paint, material patterns, or fabric coverings.
 8. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 6, wherein said corner fasteners are either snaps, clips, nuts and bolts, or hook and loop fasteners.
 9. A snap-on bed skirt, comprising: (a) a rigid vertical side skirt panel; (b) said rigid vertical side skirt panel having a side horizontal support; (c) said side horizontal support being perpendicular to said rigid vertical side skirt panel; (d) said rigid vertical side skirt panel being of the same length as the long side of a standard box spring mattress;
 10. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 9, wherein said rigid vertical side skirt panel equals two rigid vertical side skirt panels in number.
 11. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 9, further comprising a rigid vertical base skirt panel; said rigid vertical base skirt panel having a base horizontal support; said base horizontal support being perpendicular to said rigid vertical base skirt panel.
 12. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 10, further comprising a rigid vertical base skirt panel; said rigid vertical base skirt panel having a base horizontal support; said base horizontal support being perpendicular to said rigid vertical base skirt panel.
 13. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 11, wherein said rigid vertical base skirt panel equals two rigid vertical base skirt panels in number.
 14. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 12, wherein said rigid vertical base skirt panel equals two rigid vertical base skirt panels in number.
 15. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 9, wherein said side horizontal support is placed between said box-spring mattress and a mattress.
 16. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 10, wherein said side horizontal supports are placed between said box-spring mattress and a mattress.
 17. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 11, wherein said side horizontal support and said base horizontal support are placed between said box-spring mattress and a mattress.
 18. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 12, wherein said side horizontal supports and said base horizontal support are placed between said box-spring mattress and a mattress.
 19. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 13, wherein said side horizontal support and said base horizontal supports are placed between said box-spring mattress and a mattress.
 20. The snap-on bed skirt of claim 14, wherein said side horizontal supports and said base horizontal supports are placed between said box-spring mattress and a mattress. 